Sunil Kumar Verma | |
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 Verma in November 2014 | |
| Born | 28 September 1974 |
| Died | 31 May 2021 (aged 46) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | D.Phil. in medical oncology |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford |
| Known for | Universal primer technology for wildlife identification |
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Sunil Kumar Verma (28 September 1974 - 31 May 2021), was an Indian biologist and a principal scientist at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India. Verma was primarily known for his contributions to the development of "universal primer technology", a first generation DNA barcoding method, that can identify any bird, fish, reptile or mammal from a small biological sample, and satisfy legal evidence requirements in a court of law. This technology has revitalised the field of wildlife forensics and is now routinely used across India to provide a species identification service in cases of wildlife crime. This approach of species identification is now known as "DNA barcoding" across the world.
Verma received his D.Phil. in medical oncology from the University of Oxford, and had worked in the areas of signal transduction in cancer and on molecular biology applications in wildlife conservation. He was the recipient of several national awards, including the 2008 CSIR Technology Award, the 2009 NRDC Meritorious Invention Award and the 2009 BioAsia Innovation Award in recognition of his contribution to Indian science and technology. He died on May 31, 2021, due to COVID-19 pneumonia.
- ^ a b "Official Curriculum vitae of Sunil Kumar Verma". sunil.verma.org.in/. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.